Remembering Larry Schwarzbach

By Larry Lawrence | 8/28/2012 9:00 AM

It's hard to believe, but it's been 20 years since racing lost Larry Schwarzbach. On August 4, 1992, at 3 p.m., surrounded bedside by friends and family, the 27-year-old Schwarzbach was pronounced dead at Cleveland's Metro Hospital. Just two days earlier he'd been airlifted to the hospital after a horrific crash in the AMA Superbike race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He never regained consciousness. While Schwarzbach died that day, he gave precious life to several others by way of organ donation.

Schwarzbach was one of America's fastest rising road racing stars of the early 1990s. Coming late to road racing after chasing motocross for years, Schwarzbach clawed his way through the club ranks and then lived a paupers life as a privateer for a couple of years on the pro circuit trying to make a name for himself. He finally earned a factory ride and was on his way. Just hours before his fateful crash, Schwarzbach experienced the high point of his career when he won the AMA 600 Supersport race on an underdog Vance & Hines Yamaha against a horde of faster Hondas.

And then came the crash in the Superbike race. It happened on the 10th lap...